#147 - Renting Your Brain: The Business of Advice-Only Planning with Kelly Nilsson

Why do some advisors thrive without managing assets? We talk with Kelly Nilsson, founder of Brava Financial, about building a planning-first, advice-only practice that focuses on real-life risk—not just market returns. With a background in insurance, Kelly believes households are more often disrupted by death, disability, or long-term care than by volatility, and her plans are built to handle those moments.Kelly shares how she launched a virtual RIA, why project-based planning fuels her growth, and how clear scope, flat fees, and objective advice create better client outcomes. “Rent my brain” means no product pressure, no discounts, and clients who are ready to implement.This episode covers practical ways to identify the right clients, use paid consults as discovery, and design services people actually understand. A must-listen for advisors questioning the AUM default and looking to build a sustainable, planning-led practice.Kelly's Social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellynilssoncfp/Music in this episode was obtained from Bensound.